Tickled Pink

“White wrought-iron chairs scattered with blowsy cabbage roses. Robins-egg blue porcelain cake stands, dotted with strawberries as small and red as lipstick kisses. Green stemmed stools with speckled pink seats.”
~Charlotte Silver

Blush, bubblegum, fuchsia, salmon, magenta, mauve, orchid, coral, watermelon—
this is the year of PINK!

“Hi Barbie!”
“Hi Ken!”
~Greta Gerwig

Aside from the attention the Barbie movie shined on the color pink—my personal taste has always leaned to this soft sweet hue. From the pink sweet peas I designed with for our wedding flowers to our custom pink linen slipcover for our cottage sofa. The Cecil Brunner roses clamoring over the arbor to the pink glowing sunsets of summer.

I had joined Mark on a trip to the Netherlands a number of years ago. On my list of springtime adventures for a country known for flowers—the art museums and the public gardens were delightfully on the agenda. One particular day—which happened to be my birthday—I was strolling through the flower market on my own. I spotted one of my favorites. The softest of pink Ranunculus. I quickly purchased them and tucked them into my tote. A sweet self gift that each time is see them now, takes me to that intensional moment.

Our first home was a post WW2 bungalow in the Rosemere neighborhood—now Rose Village. It was a cozy 720 square feet. We set about painting each room, refinishing the hardwood floors, adding wallpaper & refreshing the kitchen. At the time, I was working at Laura Ashley. Their Bloomsbury Collection was perfect for our little bohemian cottage. Our sofa promptly got a new artistic linen slipcover & I painted pink flowers on our kitchen cabinets in the vein of Clive & Vanessa Bell. (Another nod to our name.) Refurbishing the garden I added a favorite pink peony. I subsequently moved the rhizomes to each of our 3 homes. They now joyfully reside in our Belle Flower Farm gardens.

A few of my favorite things that sprinkle pink throughout our farmhouse add joy to entertaining & everyday moments. Favorite pink china pieces include a thumb print tulip vase from my mother’s godmother, Esther. Alice China including pitcher, platter, serving bowl & tea pot collected while working at Laura Ashley. An heirloom mug, 6th generations old from England. And nothing is more welcoming than to set a table with our collection of pink depression glassware & crisp pink cotton & lace table cloth.

Lifestyle favorites include a soft pink wool coat & pink sweaters in my closet, not restricted to only February wear. And a summertime favorite is a cool glass of Trader Joe’s Sparkling Pink Lemonade & rose’ tickles me pink.